Cheap Solution to play arcade games

[samsonlonghair]

Well, that's also why I explained where that pricing range came from.

Computers that meet the system requirements could range back to 2006 or so, which easily puts them in the category of "could get for free" as well, or for cheap at the thrift store/etc. Kinda like your Mac Pros you got. The potential to get them for next to nothing is there, but what you can reliably go find one for online for may be a bit different.

Hey, you remembered my Mac Pros! You should see them now. Maybe I should dig up that thread.

[strangenova]

Does anyone here actually use mame on retropie?

[nightrnr]

Don't even have one, but always liked the idea of a simple ultra low power computer.
I would use FBA over mame though (for cps1/2 and neogeo); it has been easier for me to use than mame, and more compatible in my experience.
piFBA works very well, from what I've read.

[strangenova]

Don't even have one, but always liked the idea of a simple ultra low power computer.
I would use FBA over mame though (for cps1/2 and neogeo); it has been easier for me to use than mame, and more compatible in my experience.
piFBA works very well, from what I've read.

Thanks, I've always had some trouble getting to run properly in the past.

[Jagosaurus]

Great thread. I've looked into a pi & Ouya but both seemed like more trouble than converting a PC or soft modding an oXbox.

I recently modded an oXbox running UnleashedX & a 160GB HDD mostly for console emus (also for oXbox games off HDD) but am looking at adding CoinOps 8 next for arcade titles.

That really covers my needs but... I just acquired a free machine from work: i5 dual core @ 2.8GHz, 2GB RAM but I have 4GB stick it should take. Will eventually do something with it. It was our legacy voicemail server that almost got recycled but I saved it! I was thinking of using it as a MAME box but it's running XP. Digging for specific old emulators can be rough.

That's what nice about the xbox mod scene, a quick Google search & you'll find DLs for CoinOps 8 which is custom built for the xbox. DL & FTP over. No worries about specs, versions, packs, OS etc.

I will eventually get into the pi scene as I love the concept, but not sure MAME or emulators will be the catalyst to get me to dive in as there are easier solutions IMO.

[nightrnr]

Nice PC score! I can't believe it's on XP; as much as I love XP, an i5 really ought to be on Windows 7 or more.

I may have to check out coinops for Xbox someday. FBA just clicked for me (and the download was all set up with game pics and everything). But eventually, I will have to use something that plays a few other arcades, like Cyvern (Dragon shmups have been a thing for me since Dragon Spirit).

[samsonlonghair]

That's what nice about the xbox mod scene, a quick Google search & you'll find DLs for CoinOps 8 which is custom built for the xbox. DL & FTP over. No worries about specs, versions, packs, OS etc.

Dude, that's what's nice about consoles in general. No worries about specs, versions, packs, OS etc.

Nice PC score! I can't believe it's on XP; as much as I love XP, an i5 really ought to be on Windows 7 or more.

First Gen Nehelem Core i5 hit the market in 2008. This was in the Vista era when a lot of folks wanted to "downgrade" to WinXP.

That said, I agree this processor should have no problem running Win7 at all. Heck, Even Win10 is feasible.

[CRTGAMER]

That really covers my needs but... I just acquired a free machine from work: i5 dual core @ 2.8GHz, 2GB RAM but I have 4GB stick it should take. Will eventually do something with it. It was our legacy voicemail server that almost got recycled but I saved it! I was thinking of using it as a MAME box but it's running XP. Digging for specific old emulators can be rough.

That's what nice about the xbox mod scene, a quick Google search & you'll find DLs for CoinOps 8 which is custom built for the xbox. DL & FTP over. No worries about specs, versions, packs, OS etc.

So true about the original Xbox, such an easy system to install a fully setup Mame with matched Roms to its internal replacement larger hard drive.



Hard Drive Swap Guide at the link below and not one Reply!

Xbox Hard Drive Upgrade
http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopi ... 16#p869216



Older Windows XP PC
Nothing wrong with sticking that era PC with a fresh Win XP Install. More then enough power for Mame with plenty of versions out there. I run multiple versions of Mame to match my mixed Rom Sets which include older removed gambling games and Pong from the newer versions.

Just throw in a decent hard drive for load speed. There are so many older PC towers on the cheap at the Thrift Store that can easily be resurrected with a fresh install. They are more bulky then a console, but then the tower does not have to sit right inside the TV shelf, just run longer cables.

I picking up a used Gateway 507GR which has an older P4 3GHz. Maxed out the ram and replaced the IDE drive with a larger SATA hard drive since the motherboard supported both. Installed "downgrade" Win XP Pro which I had slipstreamed with all the Service Packs. Crazy fast bootup and works fine as a Firefox Web Browser, Mame and direct load of older games.

You know you have the XP Pro version when the Splash Screen load bar is blue instead of green.

[Jagosaurus]

I was just reading up on FBA for oXbox.

For those interested, check out this post for the list of emus, including arcade options on oXbox. It is a bit outdated. CoinOps is on version 8 now, but a nice comprehensive list.
http://xbmcxbox.blogspot.com/2013/03/co ... l.html?m=1

The PC was a nice grab, esp for free. Yeah, that i5 timeframe is correct, its roughly 8 years old. I'll be giving it a fourth "life" the PC's history is only a bit related so putting here...

It was running our ESNA voicemail off an Iwatsu ECS PBX, we moved over to a ShoreTel IP system about 7-8 years ago and it was then just a remote terminal for accessing the network off site, THEN finally it was on the tech work bench to program & stage systems. It still has several legacy phone system programmers on it. Now finally, it will be a media & emu box of some sort for me!

I could put windows 7 on it (via a Dell W7 recovery disc) but may leave XP bc it is running really clean. Seems to be less overhead. There is only a 40GB SATA HDD but it can handle a second drive so will add that to my project list.

@CRT & nightrnr (I believe you're using Slayer also per our PMs):

Check out the newer method of upgrading xbox drives, Chimp261812 program. Just DL the file, FTP to xbox (follow video directions for fIle paths), run, use cable section plugged into your CD drive for new drive (cable select, xbox puts as slave), clone drive, move to master. Done. Be sure to enable G drive in soft mod settings. It took me longet to tear down the xbox lol.

Video tutorial by one of the creators:


Hard to believe the oXbox was a P3 running at 733Mhz. The modding & programming community has squeezed so much out the console! I did see COps8 will likely be the last xbox release.

Bottom line:
I need to put CoinOps on my oXbox & tinker with MAME on my (new to me) i5 PC.

[Last Token]

For those on a Mac, MAME. It's not been updated since 2009, but it doesn't need to be if all you're looking for is 2D fun. Neo-Geo titles do require a special BIOS file.

http://mameosx.sourceforge.net/